Leading British women all set for Bath Half showdown

The 30th anniversary of the Bath half marathon is set to see oneof the best British women's races in several years.

Louise Damen, who recently won her first senior women's title atthe English Cross-Country Championships, heads Sunday's entry as sheswitches back to the roads in preparation for next month's LondonMarathon.

Joining her on the start line for Sunday's race will be defendingchampion Michelle Ross-Cope, who won with a then sparkling personalbest of 72mins 07secs 12 months ago and later went on to race themarathon at both the European Championships and Commonwealth Games.

With 28-year-old Damen in such terrific form - and clearly inshape to attack her 2007 personal best of 70:47 set when winning theReading half - Ross-Cope will have to step up her game to retain hertitle.

The race, which is again a 15,000 sell-out, starts at 11am.

"The women's race has the look of a British championships," saidrace director Andrew Taylor.

"Michelle enjoyed the race so much last year she wanted to comeback and Louise is also booked in.

"I would say it is the strongest British women's field we havehad for many years and of course there is also the African presence,although I'm not sure how strong they are this year."

Susan Partridge of Glasgow, last year's runner-up and the 2005winner, is also returning, while Chester le Street's Alyson Dixon,who is coached by British legend Liz McColgan and ran a PB of 2hr42.50 in the 2010 New York marathon, is also making the trip downfrom the north.

Bristol & West AC member Lucy MacAlister, who has enjoyed somegood races on the course, is also entered and, in the absence ofTeam Bath's Great Britain international Holly Rush, is the favouriteto finish as top West runner.

Continued on page 99 Continued from page 108 As for the leadingTeamBath runner, that could well be Jo Thompson who ran a sparklingPB of 80:21 in the 2010 Great North Run. That is a tough act tofollow for the 52-year-old but she is a great competitor and, withplenty of support, is expected to go quicker than the 83:09 she ranin Bath 12 months ago.

The last seven winners of the men's race have come from Africaand that trend looks set to continue this year. Edwin Kipkorir, JeanNdayisenga, who is well known on the British circuit, and ZacharyKihara are all capable of claiming the top prize, especially as thetop British men seem to be giving the race a miss this year.

Steve Rose heads the TeamBath contingent with Nick Shearn, PaulCox, Paul Newman and Dave Gunstone also entered.

Send your pictures of Sunday's race to photographic@bathchron.co.uk.

More Bath Half Marathon news on pages 13-15

Jo heads home contingent